5 of the best nightclubs to get your groove on!

Updated on 22nd January 2018 by Expat Living|

Are your moves beginning to make you look like your Mum on that d-floor? There’s something about hitting the big 4-0 that makes you take stock of your place in the world: and by that we mean nightclub world! Is one still allowed to ‘end up’ in the joints we used to frequent in our 20s or even 30s? Yes, we all know our favourite bars and have our go-to free-flow brunch spots too, but who has a default, go-to nightclub? To help, we’ve stumbled (the operative word) across a few late-night clubs where you’re not going to feel out of place among a swarm of Tay Tay (that’s Taylor Swift, people!) wannabes. Now, let the dance-off commence…

Why go? Because it’s an underground nightclub perfectly situated off Orchard Road underneath the Grand Hyatt. If you’ve taken on the fantastic free-flow brunch at Oasis situated four stories higher, head down to this bad boy and get those moves on. This is a popular haunt to take colleagues who might be in town on business; there a few men in suits … you get the gist!

Vibes: Late-night lounge den with urban hues in the form of brick walls aligning the red leather-clad booths. While dancing’s a big reason to go here, it’s the sort of place where you could drink all night, chewing the fat and losing track of time; maybe it’s something to do with it being underground and quite dark.

Wear: One of the smarter places on this list (in terms of dress code!), it’s longs or likely business suits for the boys and no flip flops/thongs or t-shirts. Ladies, a smart little black number and a bit of bling will suffice. The men at the door are strict here, take note. No ‘loutish’ behaviour or infringements to the dress-code, okay?

Song of choice: ‘Moves like Jagger’ by Maroon Five, sung by the live band. There’s no judgement on your dance moves here, and the music: mainstream beats that you’re likely to know, plus a bit of cheesy stuff on the side.

Drink of choice: jȁgerbomb (for the uninitiated, that’s a jȁgermeister shot dropped into a glass of Coke topped up with lager) – for a bit of Dutch courage!

Why go? Perched on the top of MBS, this club’s view is reason enough to visit. It’s part open-air but very well air-conned to boot, so there’s little chance of getting too sweaty and putting people off!

Vibes: Trendy and cool – quite touristy but a fab place to take visiting friends. A slightly older, seemingly wealthy crowd; think the cast of Crazy Rich Asians, alongside tourists from the hotel beneath with a few expats mixed in.

Wear: Nothing too frumpy please! This is a pretty slick and international venue and warrants a bit of designer-wear and some serious heels. Men, feel free to wear a crisp linen shirt, smart slacks and a good wristwatch!

Song of choice: ‘24 Karat Magic’ by Bruno Mars. The nightly DJ belts out a host of cool tunes. This isn’t a live band kinda number.

Why go? Because it’s central, and therefore ideal for city workers wanting to let off all that corporate steam. Plus, this place has a plethora of mentions in global publications as being one of SG’s top ten night-time spots. There’s a membership option here too, which gives you VIP access plus a load of discounts on high-end places around the island. The 27-metre-long bar claims to be the longest in the city! #awesome

Vibe: The second underground club on our list, Club Kyo, is a heavily Japanese-influenced club with minimalistic and sophisticated interior décor.

Wear: Stick with your CBD work attire and you won’t be out of place.

Song: R. Kelly’s ‘Bump N’ Grind’ on R&B night. There’s a mix here, with tunes dependent on the night … and don’t bother with cheesy requests – this place is far too cool.

Why go? Other than being a club, The Pump Room is also a microbrewery, which makes it that extra bit cool – plus, it might motivate the gents!

Vibe: A bit of a hybrid. Funky 70s-disco look and feel; neon coloured furniture, mirrored walls and ceiling, but pub-like at the same time – a homage to its lager-producing roots. It’s quite touristy due to its location, and it’s another fun place to head to if you’ve got visitors in town who fancy a boogie.

Wear: Smart/Casual.

Song: The in-house resident band is Stomp, and they play a mix of tunes including R&B.

Why go? For its location, people watching, and all-out unpretentiousness. Sitting centrally in the full throng of Clarke Quay, this is a prime spot for watching the world (or party-goers!) go by.

Vibe: Pub-feel, live music, casual and fun.

Wear: There’s an ‘anything goes’ vibe here, which is why it’s such a winner. You can come straight from the gala dinner in your black-tie ball gear, or in shorts and tees fresh from the sight-seeing circuit.

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